Hot Wheels: AISI Together with College for Creative Studies and University of Michigan Students Unveil 'My Other Car Is ... ' Concept Vehicles
DETROIT, Sept. 13 -- "My Other Car is ... " sporty, aggressive and emotional, a vehicle with smooth, chiseled lines that conveys adventure, excitement and performance, even when stationary, an uncompromising driving machine that is changing the rules through creativity and engineering.
This summer, design and engineering disciplines merged as students from College for Creative Studies (CCS) and University of Michigan (U-M) unveiled their remarkable automotive designs for the 18th annual American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) summer automotive design internship.
This year's internship program broke new ground by introducing a real- world twist. Three engineering students joined three transportation design students to produce exhilarating concept vehicles that targeted either the Generation X, Baby Boomers or Millennial generation. These concept vehicles embody leading-edge steel technology utilizing a flexible platform.
Ron Krupitzer, vice president for AISI's Automotive Applications Committee (AAC), said, "Developing future generations of cars and training the designers behind the concepts means incorporating advanced materials and safety technology into each design. AISI, together with CCS and U-M, are bringing tomorrow's designers and engineers together in this study to pioneer new steel ideas focused on today's various lifestyles and generations of buyers."
This summer the design students learned about the concerns of the engineers, and the engineers learned how to support new design ideas. As a result, the understanding and respect for each other's work was enhanced. The concepts evolved through two distinct perspectives to create a harmony of product concept and mechanics. Each student had the opportunity to collaborate in the production of a car and learn about the 'rapid to market' concept.
Throughout the internship, AISI scheduled field trips for the students to demonstrate behind-the-scenes steelmaking and vehicle manufacturing. Field trips to steel mills, stamping plants, engineering facilities and design studios provided rare opportunities to witness the various production stages involved in creating a vehicle. With guidance from AISI steel-applications specialists and professional automotive designers, students learned the design and engineering potential of steel to increase their understanding of how to work with the material.
Perfection of design is reflected in a car's finish. Matrix System Automotive Finishes partnered with the CCS students to provide each student with a supply of paint. While touring the Matrix facility, the students gained insight into paint processing and quality control. Each model now boasts a custom-created paint finish.
"The AISI internship allows the students to experience working with flexible manufacturing processes and materials to meet the design requirements shaped by the automotive industry," stated Bryon Fitzpatrick, chairman, Transportation Design for CCS. "Students gain a breadth of knowledge in new steel applications and incorporate design elements that can be used to meet future needs such as safety, affordability, and fuel efficiency."
Vehicle Background
The following is background on each of these concept vehicles and the inspiration from their creators.
Land Rover Carver -- an extreme off-road crossover vehicle, designed by Byung Cho and engineered by Sungchul Choi.
Inspired by extreme sports, I designed a vehicle that fits the lifestyle of Generation Y -- a vehicle that captures the personality of this group; a vehicle that conveys adventure and performance, even while stationary.
Strength, safety, and the versatility of advanced high-strength steels transform this crossover into a full all-terrain vehicle. Stamped advanced high-strength steels increase the dent resistance of the body panels. Under the body panels lies a hydroformed high-strength main body frame, giving the Generation Y owner peace of mind when it comes to crash performance and safety.
The exposed raw materials of the body frame, seen throughout the vehicle, provide design versatility. The roof rack serves as both form and function. The Generation Y owner is able to utilize the space and the steel rack increases the safety and roof crush standards. The exposed steel would be hydroformed high-strength steel, laser-welded to increase the maximum strength, and would be coated to give a brushed-steel finish.
Volvo Stal Concept -- a sports car, designed by Carrie Fodor and engineered by Aditya Rajderkar.
Safety takes priority for Generation X. I wanted my vehicle to illustrate how safety could be applied to a future vision without sacrificing creativity, design or fun. My design incorporated a solid structure boasting fluidity, simplicity and honesty -- a 'less is more' stylistic design.
With a purely electric powertrain package, along with the light weight and recyclability of the advanced high-strength steels, this vehicle accommodates the environmentally conscious Generation X consumer.
The hydroformed frame structure reduces weight and cost of manufacturing by consolidation of components and accomplishes the same functionality with less material. A lighter weight chassis means energy savings. The laser- welded blanks are used to improve the strength and rigidity of the body and door panels.
Cadillac Entourage -- a sport luxury sedan, designed by Alex Alequin and engineered by Sathish Dhandapani.
Baby Boomers are known as the wealthiest, best-educated and most sophisticated of buyers. The exhilaration of freedom and adventure is seen in their love for the water. This is the group that can afford to have a yacht. Using this as my inspiration, my vehicle brings together the Boomers' desire for luxury and their love of the water.
By implementing high-strength steels strategically around the greenhouse, I was able to provide safe protection for the passengers while maintaining the unique design aesthetics that promote the wants of the Baby Boomers.
With the advancements in high-strength steels, I was able to wrap around a two-layer hydroformed steel structure for the upper. It gave me the freedom to design a glass upper that frees the passengers of unnecessary structures and confinement.
Since 1989, the AISI/CCS interns have faced design challenges that range from visual appeal to versatility of application. But whether creating cars from movie themes or focusing on fuel containers, the students work toward one basic goal: using advanced steel technologies to design vehicles that are safe, affordable, fuel efficient and environmentally responsible.
The College for Creative Studies is a recognized leader in transportation design education, providing top talent and inspiration to the international automotive industry. Since 1906, CCS has advanced the creative spirit, preparing students to enter the global economy and shape a better world. A private, fully accredited, four-year college of art and design, CCS offers degrees in 11 fields of study and provides art education to thousands of Detroit youth through community outreach programs.
The University of Michigan College of Engineering is ranked among the top engineering schools in the country. Michigan Engineering boasts one of the largest engineering research budgets of any public university, at more than $130 million. Michigan Engineering has 11 departments and two NSF Engineering Research Centers. Within those departments and centers, there is a special emphasis on research in three emerging areas: nanotechnology and integrated microsystems; cellular and molecular biotechnology; and information technology. Michigan Engineering is seeking to raise $110 million for capital building projects and program support in these areas to further research discovery. Michigan Engineering's goal is to advance academic scholarship and market cutting-edge research to improve public health and well-being.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 33 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 118 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent more than 75 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity.
The Automotive Applications Committee (AAC) is a subcommittee of the Market Development Committee of AISI and focuses on advancing the use of steel in the highly competitive automotive market. With offices and staff located in Detroit, cooperation between the automobile and steel industries has been key to its success. This industry cooperation resulted in the formation of the Auto/Steel Partnership, a consortium of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation and the member companies of the AAC. For more news or information, view the American Iron and Steel Institute / Automotive Applications Committee's website at http://www.autosteel.org/ .
American Iron and Steel Institute / Automotive Applications Committee: * AK Steel Corporation * Dofasco Inc. * Mittal Steel USA * Nucor Corporation * Severstal North America Inc. * United States Steel CorporationPhoto: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060913/DEW008
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